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E39 (1997 - 2003) The BMW 5-Series (E39 chassis) was introduced in the United States as a 1997 model year car and lasted until the 2004 when the E60 chassis was released. The United States saw several variations including the 525i, 528i, 530i and 540i. -- View the E39 Wiki

Long story.....my 97 528i started getting an intermittent abs, asc and brake trifecta usually when coasting over a speed bump in my apartment complex. Then it started to come on when I'd slightly cut the wheel or after I'd back out of my parking spot in the morning ....then the brake light went off and it was just asc and abs, but they stayed on. Then a few weeks later a CEL for wheel speed sensor (p0500) came on and that's where I'm at today. I might add that a few days before the original intermittent trifecta I hit a massive pothole that had my abs kicking in all the time....ya know, that vibrating brake pedal ? Other than the lights I have no cruise control and a noticeable limpy acceleration that seemed to get better, but returned recently....to the point that its difficult merging onto the interstate, but not like limp mode to where I have to floor it to hit 30mph. I know ....it all seems a bit much. Like maybe I have a lot more going on than abs, but everything was fine until the pothole, trifecta, now bifecta with p0500. I tried the whole DMM diode test, but I get nothing....a constant "OL" on the DMM display. Its a brand new Klein DMM that works great and I was an electrician for 11yrs before getting into maintenance so I'm confident that I'm doing it right. I also changed the rear passenger sensor as that is the one that controls cruise control function with an OEM sensor . I did notice when I removed the old one it was covered in black shavings and dust. . I don't know, but I'm am stumped for sure. I actually have time this weekend to mess with it so please point me in the right direction. Thanks and I apologize for the "all over the place" post....its been a long day.

Did you ask for a 1997 to 08/1998 Wheel speed sensor for your (OEM )production year car? Also clean out the remaining WSS. The ABS system on this year car is very sensitive and will not accept any other type of wheel speed sensors. I experience the same problems on my 97 until I cleaned out the remaining wheel speed sensors all my problems went away

When doing the diode test if the sensor is okay you should see OL in one direction and 1.7 or so volts in the other direction. Getting the OL in both directions indicates a bad circuit somewhere. Be sure your test leads have a very thin diameter to reach into the holes - I had to try a few different setups before I was able to make consistent connections.

Here's the posting I used to diagnose this problem. I ordered a new ABS (about $500) and then had it programmed, all is working fine now.

So I cleaned the hell out of it and it was dirty ! However, no change. Am I wrong for concentrating on that one sensor just because of the cruise control ? I mean it has to be that one right ? It can't possibly the rear driver side because my speedometer and fuel gauge is working fine....the front passenger is brand new because I had the shifting issues and fixed that a year ago.... Maybe the front driver side ??? Anyone know what that one controls ??? Any chance it chips in on cruise control ???

Yeah i think I'm gonna really go at it tomorrow. I'm gonna clean every sensor and hole they go in, I'll try swapping them too. I'm also starting to question the steering or yaw sensor. Like I said, this all kinda started (perhaps coincidentally) with a giant pothole so throwing off that steering sensor may be a possibility. Then again I do have a CEL p0500 so you'd think it would be a wheel speed sensor right lol.... Anyway, thanks for the help and keep posting any ideas cuz I'll try them all. I will figure it out and post my findings. I'm sure I won't be the only one to have this problem with a 97.

So I cleaned the hell out of it and it was dirty ! However, no change. Am I wrong for concentrating on that one sensor just because of the cruise control ? I mean it has to be that one right ? It can't possibly the rear driver side because my speedometer and fuel gauge is working fine....the front passenger is brand new because I had the shifting issues and fixed that a year ago.... Maybe the front driver side ??? Anyone know what that one controls ??? Any chance it chips in on cruise control ???

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Yes you are wrong, test all four of the sensors. Look at all four for broken/cracked wires which is the problem 90% of the time.

2 are brand new (front and rear passenger) and the other 2 "look" fine as far as wiring goes. The only thing I'm missing is cruise control....again I ask is that only related to rear passenger sensor ?
I'll be cleaning and swapping sensors tomorrow... I'll report back. Goodnight and thanks everyone !!!

Didn't get a chance to work on it today...spent my day driving a couple hours to a Pull A Part to check a 97 528i just like mine. The car was beautiful, perfect body, interior, under the hood was clean and complete. I was curious as to why the car ended up in a scrap yard. Anyway....I scored a lot of much needed goodies for my car including a couple wheel sensors and that transmission pulse generator . I'll get back on the abs bifecta mystery asap and report back.

Update ..... I took a sensor that I pulled off a car in the junk yard and swapped it with the new sensor I just put on.....The ABS light went OFF !!!! BUT, the traction control light remains on and I still have no cruise control.

Check the cruise control cable on the throttle body next to your mass air sensor. Small black cable connected to the cruise control actuator. Pull on the cable and see if it is not broken inside. I had it break on my car and it trigger the ASC light. The cable was broken inside the cable housing

Yes I drove it about an hour....the check engine light from the p0500 went off. The secondary throttle actuator guide was broken. That's one of the things I got off the car in the salvage yard. I changed the actuator and the cable all in one piece. So its in good shape. I still have very sluggish acceleration... I'm sure it is from the asc.

This might sound dumb but have you tried pushing the ASC button on and off?
Now I'm stumped don't know what else to tell you. I do have an extra ASC module available. On the 97-98 it doesn't need to be coded.
Try to do a hard reset of all the computers disconnected battery for 20 minutes with your hazard lights on to drain all the memory. then reconnect and go for a drive.

I was thinking... I had a blow out on the front driver's side Sunday so I have my 20" rims all around except for the front driver's is a stock 15" wheel. Any chance that's what is setting off the ASC ?

I had the ASC light and ABS light on my 98 528i come on. Swapped out the wheel speed sensor with a new one. This did not solve the problem.

I then noticed the rear passanger tire was low. Filled it with air and the dash board was happy. No more warning lights. This happened to me again about a month after, filled the tire and everything was fine.

I was thinking... I had a blow out on the front driver's side Sunday so I have my 20" rims all around except for the front driver's is a stock 15" wheel. Any chance that's what is setting off the ASC ?

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Different wheel diameter itself won't cause the ASC light, if the tire diameter is the same. However, if the tire diameter isin't the same then it can cause ASC, ABS & CEL lights to be on.